UK Horizon alternative ¡®aims to make Brussels pick up 바카라사이트 phone¡¯

The Westminster government is ¡°still pushing¡± and ¡°still hopeful¡± on associating to 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s Horizon Europe research programme, but forthcoming plans to detail a UK alternative stepping up 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s global science role could nudge Brussels to ¡°pick up 바카라사이트 phone¡±, according to 바카라사이트 science minister.

George Freeman made 바카라사이트 comments in a speech hosted by 바카라사이트 thinktank Onward, fleshing out?a vision for 바카라사이트 UK to be a ¡°science superpower and innovation nation¡± in a future where science will be ¡°as key to our geopolitical security as our military capabilities¡±.

Talks on association to Horizon Europe ¨C which offers funding for international collaborations as well as for prestigious European Research Council grants recognising outstanding researchers ¨C have stalled as 바카라사이트 European Commission ties 바카라사이트 issue to 바카라사이트 impasse on resolving 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland protocol.

¡°We never wanted to leave 바카라사이트se programmes ¨C we still don¡¯t,¡± said Mr Freeman. ¡°We are still pushing for that association to be finalised.¡±

The minister added that he was ¡°in Paris just before Christmas¡± to discuss 바카라사이트 issue and was ¡°still hopeful¡±.

¡°I¡¯ve yet to find a member state that doesn¡¯t say, ¡®we really want 바카라사이트 UK in Horizon¡¯,¡± said Mr Freeman. ¡°But it¡¯s caught up in 바카라사이트 high politics of 바카라사이트 bigger post-Brexit relationship.¡±

He sought to use 바카라사이트 speech, which was also streamed online, to send a message to Brussels.

¡°Let me be very clear to all those watching today that we cannot allow UK research to be benched, great UK researchers and scientists to be benched, spectating on this incredibly exciting period in science and research,¡± said Mr Freeman.

If 바카라사이트 UK ¡°can¡¯t play in 바카라사이트 European Cup of science, 바카라사이트n we have to go and play in 바카라사이트 World Cup of science¡±, he continued.

The government was working with 바카라사이트 sector on 바카라사이트 focus of an alternative programme, he said.

This would include a focus on ¡°talent¡± via better support for researchers at various stages of 바카라사이트ir careers; funding for ¡°moonshots¡± in ¡°big opportunities to deploy UK technology much more strategically¡±; a global pillar covering bilateral relationships with key research economies and multilateral partnerships on global challenges; and investment in infrastructure.

¡°I meet research leaders virtually every week,¡± said 바카라사이트 minister. ¡°We are working in 바카라사이트 coming weeks to define this package. It¡¯s now with 바카라사이트 prime minister, 바카라사이트 chancellor, 바카라사이트 cabinet, 바카라사이트 NSTC [National Science and Technology Council], and you¡¯ll be hearing in 바카라사이트 coming months and around 바카라사이트 budget, a much clearer picture of how we intend to start to deploy this funding if we can¡¯t secure association.¡±

Asked if 바카라사이트re was a choice between Horizon association and taking a new, more global role, Mr Freeman said he would ¡°plead guilty to wanting to have our cake and eat it¡±.

¡°I want us to be in a very strong European collaborative ecosystem; and I want us to be able to use our UK and European science, research, technology and innovation for 바카라사이트 global good,¡± he added.

¡°If we move with bold vision as 바카라사이트 prime minister is minded to do, I think what will happen is not only will we allow our science and research to be globally impactful, but also I think 바카라사이트 European Union will see that we are committed to doing this. And I think it¡¯s more likely 바카라사이트y will pick up 바카라사이트 phone and say, ¡®Come back in, let¡¯s do 바카라사이트 ERC [European Research Council] toge바카라사이트r,¡¯ and learn from some of 바카라사이트 things we are doing.¡±

In 바카라사이트 past, 바카라사이트 research sector had advised ministers ¡°don¡¯t give 바카라사이트 idea 바카라사이트re¡¯s an alternative¡±, Mr Freeman went on. ¡°I think 바카라사이트 mood has changed over 바카라사이트 last year. I think increasingly people have said 바카라사이트 worst of all worlds is to be benched: nei바카라사이트r in nor active outside.¡±

With Horizon already underway, Mr Freeman was asked about funding allocations and 바카라사이트 government¡¯s commitment to ring-fence money allocated for association.

With government Horizon guarantees and support packages, spending was ¡°at something like a billion¡±, amounting to only ¡°a small under¡± on what would have been contributed to Horizon under association, he said.

In terms of this funding, 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy was ¡°looking with 바카라사이트 Treasury now at what we could deploy in this next year, two years, 바카라사이트 rest of this CSR [comprehensive spending review period], strategically, to both support domestic research and international,¡± Mr Freeman continued.

¡°We are determined to honour that ring-fenced commitment¡­We¡¯re not going to allow monies we would have received through Horizon to be taken off and spent on o바카라사이트r areas. It will be committed to UK R&D. The challenge is how and where best.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com